Al Davis: The 20 Best Draft Picks of His Oakland Raiders Career

1 of 22

George Rose/Getty Images

The passing of Al Davis, brought me to think of some of the many players who have played for the architect of the Oakland Raiders.

I thought it would be interesting to take take a look back at those players drafted by Davis since his involvement with the Raiders, dating back to 1963.

Davis had a hand in and left his indelible mark on the past 48 Oakland Raider drafts, regardless of his specific team-related role.

From 1963-1965, Davis was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders. 1966-1969 saw Davis as a part owner of the team, and from 1969 to present, he was owner and general manager.

The following roll call are my choices for his 20 best draft picks.

I hope you will share yours.

Fred Biletnikoff

Biletnikoff was an old-school, hard-nosed receiver who ran tremendously disciplined routes and possessed very soft hands. He caught seemingly every ball thrown his direction.

1965 second-round selection in the AFL draft
Six-time Pro Bowler
Ranks second in Raider history in receptions, yards and TDs
Super Bowl MVP and 1988 Hall of Fame inductee

Howie Long

Mike Powell/Getty Images

Long's combination of size, strength and quickness made him one of the most feared and crafty defensive linemen in the game. Long was a great player for whom opposing coaches had to game-plan.

1981 second-round selection
Eight-time Pro Bowler
84 sacks for the most in Raider history
Super Bowl champion and 2000 Hall of Fame inductee

Art Shell

One of the greatest offensive linemen to ever wear a Raider uniform, Shell was a powerful lineman who had great speed for such a big man. He was an anchor force to be reckoned with over his 14 seasons in the NFL.

1968 third-round selection
Eight-time Pro Bowler
Two-time Super Bowl champion and 1989 Hall of Fame inductee

Gene Upshaw

Quick, intense and smart, this guard represented the epitome of a field general. Upshaw was a gifted leader for 14 seasons.

1967 first-round selection
Seven-time Pro Bowler
Two-time Super Bowl champion and 1987 Hall of Fame inductee

Dave Casper

Nicknamed "The Ghost," Casper was a tremendously clutch tight end who excelled at blocking as much as his knack for creating space and pass-catching.

Casper dominated the game whenever he took the field whether on special teams or at tight end.

1972 second-round selection
Five-time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl champion and 2002 Hall of Fame inductee

Marcus Allen

Mike Powell/Getty Images

The most talented running back in Raider history.

Marcus Allen was awe-inspiring with his elusiveness and could truly do it all out of the backfield as one of the game's most elite short-yardage backs with a nose for the goal line.

1982 first-round selection
Six-time Pro Bowler
8,545 rushing yards and 79 TDs (Raider records)
Super Bowl champion and 2003 Hall of Fame inductee

Ray Guy

George Rose/Getty Images

Not only is he considered the most successful punter to ever play the game, but Guy also has a college football award named after him.

1973 first-round selection
Seven-time Pro Bowler
Most punting yards in Raider history

Cliff Branch

George Rose/Getty Images

One of the best receivers in Raiders History, Branch was a clutch receiver with world-class breakaway speed.

1972 fourth-round selection
Four-time Pro Bowler
Third all-time in Raider history in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs
Holds the record for the longest pass play from scrimmage in Raiders history (99 yards)
Three-time Super Bowl champion

Ken Stabler

Getty Images/Getty Images

Quite possibly the best QB to ever play for the Raiders.

The "Snake" had an uncanny knack for delivering the biggest of plays in the biggest games.

1968 second-round selection
Four-time Pro Bowler
19,078 passing yards and 150 TDs (Raiders records)
Super Bowl champion

Tim Brown

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

"Mr. Raider" is simply the best receiver to ever play for the Raiders.

Brown was the consummate professional who had outstanding hands and could pick the ball out of the air with a deftness not seen very often.

He brought his A-game week in and week out.

1988 first-round selection
Nine-time Pro Bowler
Holds Raiders record for games played
1,070 receptions, 14,734 receiving yards and 99 TDs (Raiders records)
Played a huge role in helping Oakland reach the Super Bowl

Charles Woodson

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Woodson quickly won over the Raider Nation when he was awarded the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

A ball hawk with tremendous instincts and a penchant for creating the turnover, Woodson was best known in Oakland for the hit he put on Tom Brady in the 2002 AFC Playoff game that was controversially overturned.

1998 first-round selection
Six-time Pro Bowler
Played a large role in the Raiders reaching Super Bowl XXXVII

Lester Hayes

Ron Haase/Getty Images

A dominant bump-and-run specialist, this shut-down corner was a favorite in Raider Nation and will go down as one of the greats.

1977 fifth-round selection
Five-time Pro Bowler
39 INTs ties him for most in Raiders history
Two-time Super Bowl champion

George Atkinson

An undersized defensive back who formed an amazing duo with Jack Tatum, Atkinson was a tenacious hitter who played with no fear whatsoever.

His goal was to let you know who he was and where he was due to his size.

Atkinson was also master of the hook tackle.

1968 seventh-round selection
Two-time AFL All-Star
Super Bowl champion

Sebastian Janikowski

David Maxwell/Getty Images

This powerful and accurate place kicker is the greatest in Raider history, and when he decides to hang it up, Janikowski will no doubt be considered one of the greats in the NFL.

2000 first-round selection
Raiders all-time leading scorer
Shares the NFL record for longest field goal (63 yards)
Longest field goal in Raiders history

Nnamdi Asomugha

Asomugha is widely considered the best shut-down corner in the league. His 11 INTs in eight seasons as a Raider is not eye-popping, but that is due in part to the fact that opposing teams did not want to throw his way.

2003 first-round selection
Three-time Pro Bowler
Allowed only 10 receptions to receivers he was covering in the 2010 season

Shane Lechler

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

This powerful and most accurate punter is on his way to becoming the best at his position in NFL history and is still going strong today.

When all is said and done, the Raiders will have had the two best punters in the game.

2000 fifth-round selection
Five-time Pro Bowler
51.1 yard punting average (all-time Raider high)
Currently holds the NFL record for punting average
Named to the 2000's All-Decade team

Jack Tatum

"The Assassin" was the most feared hitter in the game.

His hits were ferocious, brutal and were always in the mind of any wide receiver he opposed.

The knockout was his specialty.

1971 first-round selection
Three-time Pro Bowler
30 INTs in his nine seasons with the Raiders
Super Bowl champion

Darren McFadden

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

He has turned into an elite running back early in his career.

McFadden is a rising star who is a true version of a dual-threat out of the backfield. If he can stay healthy, it looks as though the sky is the limit for McFadden.

2008 first-round selection
2010 saw him average a tremendous 5.2 YPC
One of only four Raiders to have four TDs in a single game

Chester McGlockton

This imposing defensive tackle had the rare ability to rush the passer and get to the QB, while still being a sure tackler in the run game.

1992 first-round selection
Four-time Pro Bowler
39.5 sacks in his six seasons with the Raiders

Dave Dalby

The iron man who never missed a single game for 14 years, this center played through numerous concussions and injuries, giving new meaning to the description of tough and dedicated.